Georgia will go 9-3 this season, and here’s how
Georgia coach Mark Richt faces a tough start to this season. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(This appears in the AJC’s college football section on Sunday.)
(Click here to read here how and why things spun out of control for Georgia Tech last season)
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Sept. 3, Boise State (Ga. Dome), 8 p.m.
No. 5 Boise State has been outscored 121-40 in its past three games against SEC teams: Georgia (48-13 in 2005), South Carolina (41-14 in 2002) and Arkansas (32-13 in 2001). I like the Broncos anyway. I’m not sure Georgia’s defense has an answer for quarterback Kellen Moore (left), and as terrific as Aaron Murray is, I suspect it will take a little while to get used to life without A.J. Green. The Dogs’ cast of running backs is obviously thin (and Carlton Thomas is suspended for this game). If freshman Isaiah Crowell comes out like a wrecking ball, all bets are off. But I’m betting not.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Sept. 10, South Carolina, 4:30 p.m.
Marcus Lattimore rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ 17-6 win over Georgia in Columbia last season. On paper, No. 12 South Carolina should repeat as SEC East champions if Stephen Garcia doesn’t mess things up. But he very well might. The Dogs should be a little more comfortable in Athens than in the Georgia Dome. They’ll also feel a bit desperate after the opening loss to Boise State. The defense steps up just enough, and Murray will make one more play than Garcia in the end.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Sept. 17, Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m.
If the Dogs are 0-2 going into this game, Sanford Stadium is going to look like Tombstone, Ariz., post-shootout at the OK Corral. Either way, this one is a gimme. Coastal Carolina is an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) school that plays in a 9,000-seat stadium. The Chanticleers play these games for the paycheck — and to strike fear in their health insurance company.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Sept. 24, at Mississippi
The Rebels finished 4-8 last season after going 19-8 in coach Houston Nutt’s first two years, and they’ll be no better this year. Strange, considering the coach annually signs like 7,000 players for 20 spots in recruiting every year. Not much is expected from the Ole Miss defensive front, so this is a good chance for the Dogs’ offensive line and Crowell to get rolling.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 1, Mississippi State
Notwithstanding the losses to South Carolina and Arkansas that preceded it, Georgia’s 2010 season really fell apart with its 24-12 loss in Starkville (its first loss to Mississippi State since 1974). At 0-3 in the SEC, the season was over. That won’t be the case this time. No. 20 MSU lost some guys along the defensive front, and winning in Athens is something they’ve done only twice (1914 and 1956, with Georgia winning nine straight at home since).
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 8, at Tennessee
So things are rolling now, right? Four consecutive wins since the loss to Boise State and 3-0 in the SEC? Now comes trouble. I know. It’s Tennessee. But freshman quarterback Tyler Bray won four of his five starts down the stretch (16 touchdowns, seven interceptions), and coach Derek Dooley (left) gets his players to play hard, if not always smart. Mark Richt’s Dogs have been shellacked in their past two trips to Knoxville (combined score: 80-33). And I don’t believe Georgia will win every game it’s supposed to.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Oct. 15, at Vanderbilt
Vandy ranked 110th in the nation in offense last season, and the wonder is that there were 10 teams worse. The Commodores scored 96 points in eight SEC games. Auburn scored 306. But at least Vandy beat Ole Miss. If the Dogs’ defense doesn’t smack Vandy, coordinator Todd Grantham may not want to board the bus afterward.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 29, Florida (Jacksonville), 3:30 p.m.
A game against Vandy and a bye week is about as good a setup as Georgia can have against its annual tormentors. But last year it had Vandy and Kentucky leading into Florida Week and still lost to a Gators team that had lost three straight (including 10-7 at home to Mississippi State). Florida won’t be great this season. But the offensive resume of new assistant Charlie Weis tells us that he’ll probably make something of quarterback John Brantley.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Nov. 5, New Mexico State
Here’s your reach for positive karma. The last time Georgia played New Mexico State was in 2002, when Richt won his first SEC title in Athens. The Aggies are dreadful. They lost games last year by scores of 42-10, 42-16, 59-0, 52-6 and 59-24. Another walkover.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 12, Auburn
That guy at quarterback for No. 23 Auburn is gone. So is half of the defense. All together, 18 starters are gone from the BCS title team. You can’t take anything away from a coach who goes undefeated through the SEC and wins a national championship, but we’re about to find out how good Gene Chizik really is. Expect the Tigers to run the ball a lot with Michael Dyer, but he won’t be enough.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 19, Kentucky
Coach Joker Phillips said, “I expect us to be in the title race longer than we have been.” I’m not sure what that means. Five minutes? But Georgia can’t laugh too much. This used to be one of those automatic wins, but not anymore. The Dogs are only 3-2 in the past five meetings, and there have been way too many chaotic moments against Big Blue.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 26, at Georgia Tech
Since Tech upset Georgia and ripped off pieces of the Sanford Stadium hedges in Paul Johnson’s first season, the Dogs have won the past two meetings. The Jackets probably won’t be as bad this season as some forecast. But it’s difficult to know how far along Tevin Washington and/or Synjyn Days will be at quarterback, and we can be fairly certain Murray will be very good for Georgia.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
No. 5 Boise State has been outscored 121-40 in its past three games against SEC teams: Georgia (48-13 in 2005), South Carolina (41-14 in 2002) and Arkansas (32-13 in 2001). I like the Broncos anyway. I’m not sure Georgia’s defense has an answer for quarterback Kellen Moore (left), and as terrific as Aaron Murray is, I suspect it will take a little while to get used to life without A.J. Green. The Dogs’ cast of running backs is obviously thin (and Carlton Thomas is suspended for this game). If freshman Isaiah Crowell comes out like a wrecking ball, all bets are off. But I’m betting not.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Sept. 10, South Carolina, 4:30 p.m.
Marcus Lattimore rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ 17-6 win over Georgia in Columbia last season. On paper, No. 12 South Carolina should repeat as SEC East champions if Stephen Garcia doesn’t mess things up. But he very well might. The Dogs should be a little more comfortable in Athens than in the Georgia Dome. They’ll also feel a bit desperate after the opening loss to Boise State. The defense steps up just enough, and Murray will make one more play than Garcia in the end.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Sept. 17, Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m.
If the Dogs are 0-2 going into this game, Sanford Stadium is going to look like Tombstone, Ariz., post-shootout at the OK Corral. Either way, this one is a gimme. Coastal Carolina is an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) school that plays in a 9,000-seat stadium. The Chanticleers play these games for the paycheck.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Sept. 24, at Mississippi
The Rebels finished 4-8 last season after going 19-8 in coach Houston Nutt’s first two years, and they’ll be no better this year. Strange, considering the coach annually signs like 7,000 players for 20 spots in recruiting every year. Not much is expected from the Ole Miss defensive front, so this is a good chance for the Dogs’ offensive line and Crowell to get rolling.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 1, Mississippi State
Notwithstanding the losses to South Carolina and Arkansas that preceded it, Georgia’s 2010 season really fell apart with its 24-12 loss in Starkville (its first loss to Mississippi State since 1974). At 0-3 in the SEC, the season was over. That won’t be the case this time. No. 20 MSU lost some guys along the defensive front, and winning in Athens is something they’ve done only twice (1914 and 1956, with Georgia winning nine straight at home since).
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 8, at Tennessee
So things are rolling now, right? Four consecutive wins since the loss to Boise State and 3-0 in the SEC? Now comes trouble. I know. It’s Tennessee. But freshman quarterback Tyler Bray won four of his five starts down the stretch (16 touchdowns, seven interceptions), and coach Derek Dooley (left) gets his players to play hard, if not always smart. Mark Richt’s Dogs have been shellacked in their past two trips to Knoxville (combined score: 80-33). And I don’t believe Georgia will win every game it’s supposed to.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Oct. 15, at Vanderbilt
Vandy ranked 110th in the nation in offense last season, and the wonder is that there were 10 teams worse. The Commodores scored 96 points in eight SEC games. Auburn scored 306. But at least Vandy beat Ole Miss. If the Dogs’ defense doesn’t smack Vandy, coordinator Todd Grantham may not want to board the bus afterward.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 29, Florida (Jacksonville), 3:30 p.m.
A game against Vandy and a bye week is about as good a setup as Georgia can have against its annual tormentors. But last year it had Vandy and Kentucky leading into Florida Week and still lost to a Gators team that had lost three straight (including 10-7 at home to Mississippi State). Florida won’t be great this season. But the offensive resume of new assistant Charlie Weis tells us that he’ll probably make something of quarterback John Brantley.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Nov. 5, New Mexico State
Here’s your reach for positive karma. The last time Georgia played New Mexico State was in 2002, when Richt won his first SEC title in Athens. The Aggies are dreadful. They lost games last year by scores of 42-10, 42-16, 59-0, 52-6 and 59-24. Another walkover.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 12, Auburn
That guy at quarterback for No. 23 Auburn is gone. So is half of the defense. All together, 18 starters are gone from the BCS title team. You can’t take anything away from a coach who goes undefeated through the SEC and wins a national championship, but we’re about to find out how good Gene Chizik really is. Expect the Tigers to run the ball a lot with Michael Dyer, but he won’t be enough.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 19, Kentucky
Coach Joker Phillips said, “I expect us to be in the title race longer than we have been.” I’m not sure what that means. Five minutes? But Georgia can’t laugh too much. This used to be one of those automatic wins, but not anymore. The Dogs are only 3-2 in the past five meetings, and there have been way too many chaotic moments against Big Blue.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 26, at Georgia Tech
Since Tech upset Georgia and ripped off pieces of the Sanford Stadium hedges in Paul Johnson’s first season, the Dogs have won the past two meetings. The Jackets probably won’t be as bad this season as some forecast. But it’s difficult to know how far along Tevin Washington and/or Synjyn Days will be at quarterback, and we can be fairly certain Murray will be very good for Georgia.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
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372 comments Add your comment
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
August 28th, 2011
12:00 pm
Tampa Gator: Tell us more about your new OC/QB coach who can turn water into BEER but failed(and was fired) to inspire anything positive coming out of South Bend football-wise in a decade of coaching at one of the MOST prominent colleges in Division 1 Football while having a lot of talent on his teams. What your new OC needs is a new batch ot QB’s to choose from since everybody on UF’s team except a few freshmen played a little at the QB position last year..You probably need to replace all your ink cartriges by the way. You managed to say, in only 1634 words what it would take most folks at least 34 words. UGA may lose to UF but it will have little to do with OLE HEAVY’s contributions. Hope y’all ain’t paying HEAVY by the pound. If Meyers couldn’t find a real QB out of the crowd he went through I’m doubting that HEAVY can. Meyers is a better coach than HEAVY and I am thankful he has moved on
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
12:01 pm
You will win the National Title this year…..just like Big John Jenkins was going to come in this summer and dominate the college football world……can you s-p-e-l-l…..backup?
Georgia Tech has something to prove this season | Jeff Schultz
August 28th, 2011
12:02 pm
[...] Georgia will go 9-3 this season, and here’s how | Jeff Schultz [...]
H-Town Dawg
August 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
Sorry Jeff, the Dawgs do no worse than 10-2. And Florida will be made to realize that they’re headed back to Zook-like mediocrity. Dawgs roll in Jacksonville and party like it’s 2007! lol
GO DAWGS!!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
August 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
Tampa Gator: After reading your 11:34 AM post I apologize for my “raggedy a$$ post. I not only like what you had to say, it pretty well expresses my HOPES. Thanks for the upbeat opinion of UGA’s 2011.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
August 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
Jeff: Your article stated that in the Miss. State/UGA game that “Bulldawgs win”. That is a given unless Miss. State changes their mascot.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
12:20 pm
Brainiac (??????)
1. Weis did not coach for a decade at ND.
2. He had a terriffic offense at ND….but no defense. And they did not have great talent there. They had average talent. Florida has and will have great talent for him to work with….on offense.
3. Weis won some bowl games at ND….something they had not been doing…..that is something postiive (and sent players to the NFL…another thing they had not been doing)….now that is positive.
4. New batch of talent at QB? What in the heck do you call Jeff Driskell, Jacoby Brissett, and Tyler Murphy…..all talented freshmen QBs at Florida? Driskell and Brissett were two of the top QBs coming out of HS last year.,…and Murphy was a top duel threat QB coming out of the East two years ago.
5. You just fell a few words short of my word post with your post….by the way. Better check your ink….although, the last time I checked, posting did not require a connection to a printer.
6. Florida is paying Weis a lot….and it has nothing to do with his weight, which is gene and medical related and not food related (and Weis has lost a lot of weight working with Florida’s S&C coach already. And he is worth every dollar they are paying him. Bobo vs., Weis? Are you kidding!!!
7. If Florida beats Georgia this year, it will have everything to do with how Weis coaches up one, John Brantley, and the backup freshmen QBs this year….and the entire offense for that matter…..because Florida has a terriffic D this year. And remember, Florida beat Georgia with Addazio as its OC….and no OC was worse than Addazio last year….not even Bobo.
8. It is Meyer…..not Meyers……and Meyer….not Meyers….and he was not the OC at Florida….he was the head coach. Addazio was the OC…..and I am certainly glad he is now at Temple and Weis is at Florida.
9. And most Florida fans….based on the effort Meyer put into being the head coach last year….feel the same way you do about Meyer….glad he is with ESPN and Muschamp and company are in Gainesville.
10. Unfortunately, Georgia and SEC fans will soon not be glad Muschamp and company are now in Gainesville and Meyer is with ESPN (and he won’t be there long…..Ohio State next year…unless they go 11-1 and win the Big Ten this year).
Next time you post…….post so I cannot come back so strong at you!
still a dawg fan
August 28th, 2011
12:25 pm
I read in the Idaho Statesman Newspaper this morning that they are reporting that B. Boykin is texting their head coach Chris Petersen & daring him to kick to him.If it is true what are our guys doing texting the other teams head coach for & then taunting him Come on Coach M.R. I thought you had changed the culture.Put a stop to it
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TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
Brainiac….
I rarely post through emotion……and try to be real. Read my above post to see. The quality of talent between Florida and Georgia has never been that different….as it is this year. The difference has always been coaching….as I think it will be this year. Unfortunately, for Florida this year, it will also have something to do with Georgia’s SEC schedule and Florida’s SEC schedule. Georgia wins because of that and their upset of SC in game two. But you better win this year…..because Florida returns to a normal SEC schedule and will be extremely talented next year….and extremely well coached….in year two under Muschamp and Weis.
Dawgman
August 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
The only way CMR survives a 9-3 record is if the record is good enough to get to Atlanta in December. 9-3 and no trip to Atlanta in December will more than likely be the end for him in Athens.
The schedule is favorable and the last 2 years have been awful. The East is down for the most part, UT and UF will not be down forever. WE DO NOT FACE THE BIG BOYS FROM THE WEST. This year is it for CMR, its Atlanta or bust.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
still a dawg fan….\
Richt will put an end to it…..if it is true……and if it is true, Boykin is a dumb a……….
But I have a hard time believing such a story.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
12:33 pm
Dawgman….
No way the current AD at Georgia fires Richt with any kind of 9-3 record. But I could see it with a 8-4 or 7-5 record and a loss to SC and Florida. But no way with 9-3 and a bowl trip. You don’t fire coaches with that….or you are a bad AD. Plus, he would have improved from 6-7 to 9-3 and just came of two good recruiting classes. No way.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
Dawgman……
Florida is not down…..but keep on thinking that. They are loaded with talent…..and have big time coaching going on again…..something that did not exist last year in Gainesville when Meyer took the year off.
whatever
August 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
With Georgia’s cupcake schedule after the BS game (which UGA will win – BS lost too many key players in DBacks and Receivers) – UGA SHOULD easily go 10-2 without much of a sweat. Dawg fans CAN NOT complain about the schedule this year.
Dawgman
August 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
TampaGator,
After last year, yes, you are down until you prove otherwise. I agree that UF is loaded with talent but hold onto your judgements until at least halfway through the season. We heard the same crap last year.
“Brantley will step right in for Tebow.”
“Brantley for Heisman.”
UF and UGA are in the same boat, eventhough you beat us last year, you have just as much to prove this year as we do. Chill out with the arrogance.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
12:44 pm
still a dawg fan….
Boykin used Twitter for the post….and did not text the coach directly. Muschamp has made a rule against Florida players using Facebook and Twitter…..for a reason….at Florida. Richt should do the same. But the Boise coach had a good come back…..that they are not afraid of kicking to him….and playing well to the challenge of a good team is what you are supposed to do. You better hope Boykin backs up his Twit….and stops doing it.
Dawgman
August 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
Tampa Gator,
9-3 with no trip to Atlanta should get CMR fired.
Bama, LSU, Arky, and the Chickens are the top teams in the SEC right now and we only play one of them. The schedule sets up nicely to make a run. IF not this year, then when?
buckheaddawg
August 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
the best move georgia made this offseason was starting sanders commings at S and telling rambo to sit the f down
Giggyloo
August 28th, 2011
12:50 pm
UGA will miss Caleb King & W.Ealey. They try to downplay the loss of these two but it will result in LOSS for UGA !
Amos
August 28th, 2011
12:51 pm
UGA will not win 9 games ?
kerryb
August 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
All of you columnist are predictable every year. Georgia will NOT lose to Florida this year. Reason: new coach, new offense they don’t have the players to run, lost their best defensive players. Georgia will NOT lose to Tenn. Don’t see any athletes at Tenn yet that will compare to Georgia’s. Georgia is also going to beat the most over hyped team that doesn’t play anyone like an SEC team to start the year. What happened to Boise State in 2005 will happen this year. They were hyped to beat us in our own house and see what happened to them then 48-13.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
12:55 pm
Dawgman……
In the same boat…….?????
In the same boat………..6-7 last year and only returning 7 starters vs. 8-5 and losing only three major players (Pouncey, Gilbert, and Jenkins)?
In the same boat…….
A roster filled with 3 straight top 10 classes (I think) vs. a roster filled with 3 straight top 10 classes…but ranked higher every year than Georgia until last year (I think)
In the same boat…….Liberty Bowl loss to UCF and scored only 7 points against them vs. Outback Bowl (New Year’s Day Bowl by the way) win over Penn State and scored over 30 points.
In the same boat……Florida beat Georgia the year Meyer took the entire year off and Addazio was the OC the entire year…..and the year Florida had a terrible DC who had the Martinez bend but do not break approach to D…..and still beat the Dawgs….because they did not break somehow.
In the same boat……..ESPN was also touting Brantley as a potential Heisman candidate and future NFL star last summer based on his play in spring and summer practice last summer….just like me….and we were wrong.
In the same boat…….You still have Bobo as your OC and Florida has Weis at its OC. Like comparing a canoe vs. a Steamboat….both is size of body and stenght of football mind.
BETTER GO BACK AND CHECK THE SIZE OF THAT SAME BOAT AGAIN.
kerryb
August 28th, 2011
1:06 pm
Tampa Gator, Florida kicked it’s best cover corner off the team. Several of those players in those top 10 teams have transferred. You are now running a pro style offense with no established FB scat backs who can’t run between the tackles, shorthanded at experienced WR’s, and no TE to speak of. You have also an experienced offensive line in a new offense. Florida has more problems that you will admit.
kerryb
August 28th, 2011
1:08 pm
I should have said an inexperienced o-line in a new offense.
kerryb
August 28th, 2011
1:10 pm
Florida will lose 5 games this year but these unoriginal columnist will still pick them to beat us. Look at it on paper not what has happened in the past.
Dawgman
August 28th, 2011
1:10 pm
Tampa Gator,
Let me say it one more time for you.
Yes, you are in the same boat.
Anotherseason
August 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
IF it is true that Boykin used Twitter to post to any Boise personnel – then CMR should set the precedence and bench Boykin for this game – but of course we all know CMR won’t do this – he only distills discipline for games that don’t really matter – when UGA should easily win.
Dawgman
August 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
Weis is such a great coach that ND fans wanted him fired 2 years before he was actually fired.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
1:20 pm
keery B……
1. Deonte Thompson at WR fits the pro style better than the spread style and is thriving in the new offense.
2. Quinton Dunbar (redshirt fr) will probably be on the all-freshmen SEC team at WR this year and fits the pro style offense perfectly with his good size (6′1 and 190), great hands (reportedly has not dropped a single ball in practice this spring or summer), and terrffic speed (4.3).
3. Jordan Reed at 6′5 and 255 will fit perfectly at tight end in the pro style offense….great speed, stength, and hands.
4. Chris Rainey ran out of the I-formation in high school and has been thriving running out of it this summer…..along with Jon Demps as a speed change of pace…..and Trey Burton (6′3 and 235) as the bruising back in the I-form on short yardage situations).
5. Burton will also be hard to deal with running out of the H-back postion, mainly catching the ball out of the backfield and blocking for Rainey, Demps, and Brown.
6. The OL is raving about playing in the pro style vs. the spread. “We get to knock people down now….and Matt Patchan is finally healthy and is a beast at RT.
7. The pro style best fits the skills of John Brantley…..and all reports are that he is thriving in it this summer…..and so is Jeff Driskell.
“Lost their best defensive players”
Florida lost only two very good players in Janoris Jenkins and Ahmad Black. Jenkins will be difficult to replace…..but Marcus Robertson may start as a freshman and has the same skill sets as Jenkins…and is bigger and faster…and a very talented Cody Riggs will be there as well….and is currently the starter…but may be a little too small and probably fits better in as the nickel back. Matt Elam will replace Black and will be even better than Black…..this year.
They lost two DE’s…..Trattou and Lemmens…..both of which will not be missed much and will be replaced by better players….Sharieff Floyd and Ronald Powell….soon to be SEC stars.
They also lost Will Hill at FS……who was don’t want to go to class, lazy jerk, did not play well, left school early….was not drafted or signed as a FA by the NFL……..and will not be missed…..and was replaced by Josh Evans at the end of the year. Josh will still be there and he is being pushed hard by an outstanding freshmen, Pop Saunders….both are better than Hill right now.
If you beat Florida this year……it will be because Brantley did not develop and Florida was forced to play a freshman at QB (like you guys last year)….and he will probably throw a key interception at the end of the game to cost the Gators the game…..like for you guys last year. That will be the only reason…..and maybe Florida being down from losing close games to Bama and LSU in previous weeks.
JD
August 28th, 2011
1:27 pm
Now that we know how the season will go since Jeff has spoken, can we get the final BCS standings and move on to March madness. (or should we play the games?). Can you imagine predicting the SEC Championship game before any games are played and season ending injuries happen?
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
1:27 pm
Dawgman……
Weis is not the head coach at Florida or at ND anymore, dude. What he did at ND as HC has nothing to do with what he is going to do at Florida….apples and oranges….or what he has done as OC at New England and Kansas CIty (last year) in the NFL. He is the OC at Florida now…..and Weis….believe it or not…..is one of the top offensive minds in ALL of football. Burry your head all you want. Weis will have a huge, postive impact at Florida….this year and for several years to come. He is a great offensive mind and coach. And, yes, he is overweight. But that does not impair his coaching mind at all…..especially when he is watching film and teaching eager offensive minds at Florida.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
1:30 pm
Dawgman……
Same boat? Again? But….again….just words based on emotion and loyalty….not facts to justify same words again….but that is the easy way out, isn’t it?
artoris
August 28th, 2011
1:41 pm
Until Georgia proves they can win I predict another year of mediocrity. This article is just another preseason hype that happens every year and then amounts to nothing.
ATL XMAN
August 28th, 2011
1:46 pm
tampagator…the offense that weiss will be running is not as simple as you may think. its mostly about timing and knowing your assignments( knowing who to block on blitzing linebackers and reading def secondary that brantly or anny player on the fla offense is used to) as far as runnnig the ball and you guys really dont have a back that is ready to handle the pro style offense. it will take time for your offense to click and really be albel to use all that talent. your defense will be good for sure but still young enough to make some mistakes that i think uga will take advantage off. the problem was not our offense last year but our defense in the 4th qt. just didnt finish out the game like they should have. i think you underestimate the pro style offense learning curve. its not simple and brantly confidence is a little shook right now.
OldFan
August 28th, 2011
1:47 pm
9-3. Absolutely ridiculous! 7-5. And, remember, that’s a better record than last year.
ATL XMAN
August 28th, 2011
1:49 pm
uga did prove they could win…they have gone 96 and 30 something since richt has been the coach and just 3 years agao won 10 games. no reason not to think they will start winning 10 plus a year again. a good mix of talent and experience on this years squad will make the difference on defense.
ATL XMAN
August 28th, 2011
1:51 pm
rainy and demps are not pro style running backs and you are kidding yourself if you think they are. way too small and will most likley be hurt by the time they play uga. they are not built to take the pounding that a pro style running back will take over the season.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
1:56 pm
kerryB…..
None of the players who transferred were going to play much at Florida…..and one….Chris Martin….would not go to class or stop smoking pot. Not exactly Muschamp’s type of player. The other, Jenkins, would not stop smoking pot either. Let him do it at a small college in Alabama now.
No TE? Weis will disagree. Jordan Reed will be playing TE in the pros soon…..he is another Aaron Hernandez type player….but is bigger and faster….same great hands. You might remember him….so talented that he ran over your players in the wildcat formation last year. \
Shorthanded at WR and inexperienced at WR?
Deonte Thompson…..4th year starting at WR…and caught a key pass near the endzone against Georgia last year.
Chris Hammond – 3rd year starting at WR….and maybe the most consistent WR on the team.
Omaris Hines – 3rd year playing WR and caught two key passes against Georgia last year.
Andre Debose – the #1 WR coming out of HS a couple of years ago….and starting to play to his potential both as a WR deep threat and as a kick returner (two for TDs last year)
Solomon Patton…..another 5-star recruit starting to get it and make an impact both as a WR and on special treams.
and….probably the best of all……
Quinton Dunbar…..reshirt freshman who would have started last year if he had not sustained an injury the last week of summer practice. He will make the freshman all-SEC team this year.
I think you meant….”inexperienced OL”
LT – Xavier Nixon, Jr – former freshman all-SEC player and played hurt a lot last year.
LG – Kyle Kohane, Soph – not that experienced but Weis says he has a future in the NFL at guard.
OC – Jon Harrison, Soph – yes, not experienced, but is very good.
RG – Jon Halipio – Jr. – very experience and very good….as the guy who lined up against him in the Georgia-Florida game last year…..burried him and Trey Burton and Jordan Reed ran to the right side all day long.
RT – Matt Patchan – Jr. – experienced, but hurt a lot at Florida…healthy now and a beast of a RT.
Key back up….Chaz Green….the RT your coach wanted so badly, but is having a difficult time beating out Nixon and Patchan because they are so good. They also have the Weiner kid as a backup, and he was a starter at ND for 3 years in the Weis offense.
Think again.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
2:01 pm
X-Man…….
Chirs Rainey has never been hurt for more than one game at Florida…..and he has taken a lot of pounding in his three years in the SEC. And you have to touch him to pound him….and Rainey is not easy to touch or catch running out of the I-formation.
Joh Demps is 5′8 and 195 pounds…..and all muscle. He ha been running up the middle for three years at Florida. He hurt his foot last year whr. By the way, the foot has completely healed and he is still running a 4.2……much of it straight up the middle
Trey Burton is 6′3 and 235 and takes pounding just find….if you can catchi him,,,,which none of the Georgia players could last year.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
2:03 pm
…..that would be…..Demps hurt his foot when it was stepped on in a game last year and suffered a severe high ankle sprain……that could happen to any sized back.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
2:08 pm
X-Man…..
According to Weis and the Florida players……..Brantley’s confidence has never been highter than it is right now…..and Weis says he complelely understands the offense (so much that Weis is letting him call all the audibles on the field)….and Weis has stated that he has full confidence….based on Brantley executing the offense in practice….for him to do that in games. Weis is also saying Driskell is almost ready to do the same. In the Weis offense, the QB has to be able to effectively read the defensive sets at the line of scrimmage and be able to execute the called play or audible to another to take advantage of the set. Weis says Brantley is doing that in practice at a high level. He just has to do it on Saturdays.
TampaGator
August 28th, 2011
2:10 pm
Well….the wife says it is time to go for our walk on the beach…….have a nice day.
Lilburn Dawg
August 28th, 2011
2:23 pm
Your predictions are close, but I differ in that we’ll lose to Boise, lost to SC, lose to Auburn instead of Tennessee, and lose to Florida.
Just gonna say it!
August 28th, 2011
2:32 pm
Got to love a homer Florida fan who last year spoke so far out of his rear that he predicted Florida would be just as good and repeated the fact that UF would be in the SECCG, beat Everyone, and all those freshmen signed to the best recruiting class 2009 would contribute and be great players. When in reality the upperclassmen had to slap those youngster around, the quarterback had a very hard time doing anything. UF slipped by Ohio, barely beat USF, and got spanked by MSU, Al, FSU, LSU, and had to hang on to beat Tennessee. However they did beat Georgia as they annually do.
Saying all that, they were and still are better than the UGA team that is one year removed from winning only one trophy. The Fulmer Cup. The losses to Colorado, USC, MSU, UCF all stand out as embarrassing. And now this dream team is going to save the program. What a laugher.
In the end, Florida is better than UGA, has a ton of deeper talent, and will once again beat UGA only to have the DC at UGA give the choke sign to himself and the entire UGA football squad.
One word of advice to tampagator…do not let your mouth over load the gator bite. It did not work out to well for you last year….did it?
Just gonna say it!
August 28th, 2011
2:35 pm
Anyone that loses to Auburn at home is pretty pathetic. That bunch is going to be horrible. No matter how you spell it, the program is rebuilding and will need two years of payroll to get back in the hunt of the SEC.
Just gonna say it!
August 28th, 2011
2:37 pm
USC should win the East, lose to LSU or Alabama in the SECCG…
UF will finish second
UGA will finish third
UT/UK tied for 4th
Vandy winds up better than most folks think.
LSU/Ala
MSU
Ark
Auburn
Ole Miss
It may be not be good enough to get a SEC team in the NCG….
Bob
August 28th, 2011
2:48 pm
@Tampa…thanks for your posts. I enjoy reading them and appreciate your insight. You certainly support your team, too, but I have to recpectfully disagree about Derek Dooley. While he’s a fine man and a solid recruiter, I can’t see him at UGA. He may even be a better coach right now than Richt, but that’s not saying much. Our game with UF will be interesting…just don’t party too much on Dale Mabry afterwards trying to get over a loss.
playmeortrademe
August 28th, 2011
2:55 pm
Well, three losses in the five biggest games of the year, that would probably be it for the Mark Richt era at UGA.
The only way the boosters and alums remain happy is if UGA somehow backs into the SECCG at 6-2 and then upsets the west rep and goes to the Sugar Bowl. If not, UGA will be 2 for 5 or 2 for 6 in big games and relegated to either the Chick-Fil-A or Capital One Bowl. Not a successful season for a school that wants to be an annual BCS contender.
And Florida is a must. Lose to UT and UF and you are 5-3 and 4-2 in the SEC and probably staring at 3rd place. Sanford Stadium will be 2/3 full vs NMSU and UK. Check the message boards and radio call-in shows if that scenario play outs.
Bill Grogan
August 28th, 2011
3:00 pm
Dogs will not know if IC can run AB (after Boise) because they will get behind early and have to pass often just to try to catch up.
The author missed on his second pick.
Athens Dawg
August 28th, 2011
3:08 pm
I like Boykin’s confidence and swagger. ” I DARE you to kick to me.” I love it. Oh and he can back it up and if you want to argue with me I’ll post videos of him returning kicks for touchdowns. I know you believe me, so I won’t have to go there will I?